Market Watch May 2015

For years, rum has been waiting for its moment. That’s not to say the category has done so badly—it’s always been among the most popular spirits in the United States and has never endured a dark age like whiskies did prior to their recent renaissance. Whiskies now account for much of the spirits industry’s volume growth, while also capturing the high ground with an array of aged and upscale expressions. That’s a marketer’s dream—and one that’s been elusive for rum, as the category has never managed to scale the lofty value heights enjoyed by other spirits categories. Could that change? The conventional wisdom is that rum has tried to move upmarket so many times in the past that it seems to be hopeless. I respectfully disagree. Whiskies were written off…

California’s Bottle Barn Changes Ownership.... Bruce and Loretta Emmons have sold their Bottle Barn store in Santa Rosa, California, to Sajive and Tina Jain for an undisclosed price. A 25-year industry veteran and MARKET WATCH LEADER, Bruce Emmons originally took over Bottle Barn in 1990 and turned it into a Sonoma County destination. The store’s 14 employees will remain on staff. A native of San Jose, Sajive has run several successful manufacturing and retail businesses in India and sought a new opportunity when he and his family relocated to the Bay Area last year. The Jains will spend the coming months learning Bottle Barn’s business and making small improvements, but Sajive says he plans no major changes. “I’m driven by Bruce’s advice to me: ‘Why fix it if it ain’t…

Pernod Ricard’s Martell Cognac has partnered with actress Diane Kruger, who will become the brand’s ambassador as the Cognac house celebrates its 300th anniversary this year. Among other brand initiatives, Kruger will spearhead the “Martell France300” project, which will identify 300 “ones to watch” across the art, fashion, mixology, culinary and entertainment industries. The venture is designed to replicate the desires of Louis XIV 300 years ago, when he gathered the nation’s most celebrated artists and cultural figures at the court of Versailles. Martell is also teaming up with French lifestyle magazine L’Officiel for the project. In the six months through December 2014, marking the first half of Pernod Ricard’s fiscal year, Martell’s global volume rose 2 percent, but net sales dropped 9 percent, owing to down-trading.…

The United States Of Craft Beer The new book from beer industry veteran and home brewer Jess Lebow explores the country’s craft brewing landscape, starting with Alabama’s Straight to Ale Brewing and ending at Wyoming’s Snake River Brewing Co. The 208-page paperback ($19.99) dedicates each chapter to a state, highlighting a significant brewery and its origins, along with other notable producers in the region, key facts about the market, maps and photos. Published by Adams Media, the book hit stores in April. For more information, visit Adamsmediastore.com. The History Of Wine In 100 Bottles Wine expert Oz Clarke traces the seminal moments along wine’s journey, from 6,000 B.C. to the modern era, in this new 224-page hardcover ($24.95). The tome features full-color photos of bottles, wine cellars and vineyards; artwork…

Las Vegas Hotel Lounge Offers Dual Experiences The boutique, non-gaming property Vdara Hotel & Spa aims to highlight a different side of Sin City at its new lobby lounge Vice Versa, which debuted in February. The venue has two components: Vice, which offers extravagant cocktails, indulgent hors d’oeuvres, and lesser-known beers and wines, and Versa, a lighter counterpart with refreshing mixed drinks, more approachable fare, and popular beer and wine labels. The dual-personality bar has indoor and outdoor seating, providing a casual vibe during the day and transforming into a contemporary high-energy lounge at night. Cocktails at Vice include the Rosés Are Red, made with Nolet’s Silver gin, Giffard Lichi-Li liqueur, fresh raspberry and sage, topped with Mumm Napa Brut Rosé sparkling wine, and the V Espresso Martini, comprising Ketel…

Boasting 48 draft lines and an extensive selection of whiskies and bottled brews, Tapworks Tavern & Grill opened in February in Chicago’s Greektown neighborhood. The venue boasts two separate bars and offers spiked milkshakes and beerinfused food, including fish and chips, burgers, and cheese dip. Chicago-based Bottleneck Management opened a location of its Old Town Pour House brand in Gaithersburg, Maryland, this March. The tavern has more than 90 local and global brews on draft and offers specialty cocktails and wines on tap, as well as a menu of reinvented classic American fare like filet mignon sliders and crab cakes. Wine rules at Augustine, an approachable bar with an upscale menu that opened in February in Los Angeles’ Sherman Oaks neighborhood. The venue offers more than 75 glass pours, including…